Kerry Tolliver is persuaded to leave the comforting warmth of her family’s tree farm and travels to New York with her brusque brother, Murphy, to sell Christmas trees. To add insult to injury, the siblings are staying in a relic holiday trailer they call Spammy.

Eating and washroom facilities are granted by a kindly restaurant owner while showering is offered in a stranger’s condo. Kerry learns the big city is not as cold and impersonal as she expected, and soon makes connections within the neighborhood, including a handsome single father and his adorable six-year-old son.

Childhood memories remind Kerry of Christmas’s past and the joy the season brings opens her heart to future possibilities.

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a delightful Christmas novel by Mary Kay Andrews. I want to say it was a nice read, which it was, as are all Mary Kay Andrews books. Nothing to deep here but there is a wonderful backdrop of people caring about one another and wanting to help where they can and I think that was the lovely part of the novel.

Kerry and her brother Murphy head to New York city from North Carolina to sell Christmas tree's. Their family has done this for many years, however Kerry doesn't usually go but her father can't go because he suffered and illness and Kerry's mom is taking care of him even though they have been divorced for many years.

There is a love connection between Kerry and Patrick who is currently going through a divorce. Patrick and his wife share custody of their child Austin, and he gets to live in the same apartment but the parents go back and forth to spend their time with him - sounds exhausting but probably not as exhausting as the child going back and forth. Austin is a bright child and he and Kerry who is a graphic artist start writing a little book together and while they are doing that an older gentleman, Heinz, who might be homeless adds his drawing skills to the project. One day Heinz is feeling under the weather and they all get worried about him and try to find him. I think the Heinz storyline is the best part of the story - finding out about Heinz and who he is and how he got to his current state of living. It is a book about friendships and connections.


I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Selling Christmas trees in a small neighborhood of New York City for a small town North Carolina girl was no easy feat. Trying to survive the cold of a NYC winter while living in a rundown trailer with no running water or heat. She came to find love and the passion to take a chance on her art. Mary Kay Andrews hits it out of the park with this great Christmas read and to remind you that Christmas isn’t about gifts but about who you spend it with and care about. Thank you Mary Kay Andrews and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I am leaving this review on a volunteer basis. #christmas, #netgalley, #love

A truly magical Christmas story. Kerry joins her brother in New York to sell Christmas trees in the hope of saving the family tree business. She meets a great variety of people and finds her way to a new beginning.

This is a sweet novella about found family, set in NYC at Christmas time. When their father Jock is too sick to travel north, Murphy Tolliver enlists his sister Kerry Tolliver (recently unemployed and living at home) to travel with him from their Christmas Tree farm in North Carolina up to NYC to sell trees for a month. When she's there, Kerry finds friendship and love in unexpected places.

For me personally, this was a little too saccharine. It reads like an especially earnest Hallmark movie. I think for anyone looking for a sweet Christmas story, this will definitely fit the bill, but I personally found it all too sugary sweet.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

After The Santa Suit, I was so happy for the opportunity to read Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews! The perfect holiday read - it was hard to put down, and I was so sad when I finished! Thank you to St Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Mary Kay Andrews.

Thank you to Net Galley and Mary Kay Andrews for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4.5 / 5 Stars

I really enjoyed this book! It really was so cute and kept me interested the whole time. The writing was beautiful as well.

What a great story! I thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas story, set in NYC, during spring in Illinois. Such a heartwarming story, with several main characters and their stories. How it all weaves together by the end is what makes it magical. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley!

What a fun Christmas book! I really enjoyed the characters in this book, especially Heinz. He’s kind of a cantankerous, bossy fellow but he ends up being forced to let others take control. I liked the sweet friendship between him and Kerry. Make sure you take time to read this book during the holiday season.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The story of the Tolliver family Christmas stand is a cute little Christmas story. It just so happens that Kerry is included in this year’s Christmas traditions and it starts out rocky for her character, but MKA brings new characters in little by little and with Kerry’s positive spin on things it draws you closer and closer to her as the plot develops. It is another well-written plot by this author, but it’s on the short side compared to her typical books. This wasn’t a ‘can’t put it down’ book for me, but it was a book I didn’t question finishing.

A merry, heartwarming tale! How very fortunate I am that Santa (with a bit of assistance from elves at St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley) gifted me with a complimentary ARC of Mary Kay Andrews’ Bright Lights, Big Christmas. Opinions are my own.

And I truly loved this uplifting novel about the Tolliver family and their Christmas tree lot in New York City which, at its heart, features family and friendships. MKA captured ever so well the spirit of urban living, peppering the neighborhood with eccentric characters, as well as the magical festive atmosphere that seems to spread throughout Manhattan each December. Indeed the novel positively exudes the Christmas spirit!! And the story is as captivating as it is merry.

Highly recommended!

i love Mary Kay Andrews books, it was wonderful to read a Christmas story in May, this one is set in New York, unlike her other books, which are usually set in the south. very good read.

What a delightful, joyful read. Mary Kay Andrews is an author that I have read before and she always delivers a great story. In Bright Lights, Big Christmas she had me wishing 1, I lived in New York City and 2, it was December not May., The description of the Tolliver family and their Christmas tree farm fascinated me. Our family tradition is to go to the mountains and cut down our trees but I have always wondered what a great family business it would be. This book showed me that it is so much work year-round to get the trees to perfection. I found this book hard to set down and finished it in two days. I was gifted an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thank you Netgalley and Mary Kay Andrews.

I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was super excited because I am a big fan of MKA's writing style. This book proves that friends are the family you choose. This is a Christmas story, but it can be read any time of year for a feel-good moment. Kerry is the FMC and she is between jobs and coerced by her mom to help out her brother, Murphy, at the family Christmas tree lot in New York City. This is the first trip to the lot for Kerry in years and she is not looking forward to it. Patrick, the MMC, is a divorced Dad with a young son whom he co-parents with his ex-wife. The story revolves around Kerry learning the ropes of a job she never thought to do again while exploring her creative side in ways she thought to never use again. The reader is introduced to many characters from the neighborhood that slowly develops into a family for Kerry. Kerry explores her art, learns more about her brother and his friends from the neighborhood. Mostly Kerry has to learn about herself and what she truly wants in life. This book was a pleasant read and MKA did not disappoint. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes a great feel-good Christmas read, slow developing romance, chick-lit or contemporary romance.

I love to throw in a Christmas book throughout the year and this one was super cute. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters were so wholesome.

“Bright Lights, Big Christmas” is by Mary Kay Andrews, an author I’ve become to associate with feel good stories. I must admit - I’m a sucker for Christmastime in New York City. I grew up seeing it on TV but wasn’t able to experience actually seeing, in person, NYC dressed up for the holidays until just a few years ago. I may not be a fan of NYC, but it knows how to dress fancy for that holiday. I’ll admit - the cover of this book pulled me in - such an adorable illustration. So, what’s the book about? It’s about family ties - finding new friends - taking chances - a bit of romance - kindness of strangers (yes, even in NYC it can happen) - having fun - and the love of dogs. For me, I needed a lighthearted quick read and this book delivered. Once again, Ms. Andrews delivered something I enjoyed and didn’t know I needed to read, but am glad that I did.

Christmas came early with gift of Advance Reading Copy of MKA's Bright Lights, Big Christmas!

Heartwarming story. Unlike MKA'S other Christmas books it isn't set in the South, but the NYC neighborhood feels like a small town with all it's friendly welcoming characters. Is that realistic? Probably not. Although the Tolliver Family has been selling trees there for years. So yes they would have made friendships. Will just put that down to the Magic of Christmas. Definitely see this book becoming a Hallmark movie.

My only complaint was the Insta-love Romance. I would have preferred if they realized that liked each other and decided to see where things go. Fortunately there is more to the story. Mystery part was my favorite.

Bright Light, Big Christmas is definitely a curl up with hot beverage on a cold day comfort read.

Short holiday books are my jam and I was so excited to get this one! Mary Kay Andrews has a writing style that is so homey to me. I love all the southern charm and sayings that she writes with.
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The characters are great and so likable except for the love interest, Patrick. I felt like we didn’t get to know him well enough. The romance aspect ended up being my least favorite part of the book.
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I LOVED Murphy, and the dog, and Heinz, and the neighborhood. What’s better than Christmas in New York? The setting was SO charming.
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I think readers looking for a romance will be disappointed, but if you’re looking for a sweet Christmas read about selling trees in NYC, it’s a winner!
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance e-copy!!

Well I have to preface this review with the fact that Mary Kay Andrews is probably my favorite author....so of course, I'm going to say this book is a delight! I've never read a Christmas book in May, but now I might do that every year. I really enjoyed this book and the main character trying to fit in to the big city even though she is a small town girl. I'm going to have to reread this closer to the holidays because it's definitely one of those books that will put you into the Christmas spirit. What's not to love about a girl trying to sell Christmas trees?? And of course, there's some mystery, romance, and fun antics all throughout the book.

A keeper of a book that will take its place on my shelf next to The Santa Suit to reread each season from New York Times best selling author Mary Kay Andrews.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a novella celebrating the magic of Christmas and second chances.

Kerry Tolliver is an unemployed graphic artist, who has moved back to her family’s Christmas tree farm in western North Carolina. The Tolliver family has been selling Christmas trees in New York City since Kerry Tolliver was a little girl. Her father has some unexpected health problems and Kerry is guilt tripped into taking his place by her mother, Birdie, to accompany her oldest brother, Murphy, to NYC to sell their Christmas trees from the family farm. Kerry is not looking forward to living in the family’s ancient camper, nicknamed Spammy, without working heat or plumbing. This is where Kerry and Murphy will live while in New York. Then, Kerry meets Patrick, the annoying Mercedes owner who parked in her spot for the first two days. Patrick is recently divorced, a father to a six-year-old son, and lives in the neighborhood. Can Kerry’s first impressions about the handsome single father be wrong?

I love reading Christmas books year round so it doesn’t feel strange to be reading a Christmas book in May. It was a quick read because I didn’t want to put it down.

There is so much to like about this charming story. Loved the characters, the perfect city setting, and the neighbors and community support. A must read this holiday season.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Mary Kay Andrews for the eARC I received in exchange for my honest opinion.

Absolutely charming!

5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️